The Connection Between Your Heart and Kidneys

Your kidney health and heart health go hand in hand, which means that when you take care of one, you are also taking care of the other. By making some simple lifestyle choices, you can take charge of your heart and kidney health and prevent serious health problems down the road.

Many people do not realize the similarities between the kidney and the heart and the ways that they are related to each other. Your heart is responsible for pumping blood to all of your other organs. And your kidneys are responsible for filtering that blood to eliminate waste. They also regulate electrolytes, balance sodium levels, and control blood pressure.

Many of the risk factors for developing heart disease are the same as for developing kidney disease. These risk factors include:

You can prevent heart and kidney disease by minimizing your risk through exercise, healthy eating, and quitting smoking.

If you have heart disease, getting regularly tested for kidney disease is essential. Usually, kidney disease will not cause noticeable symptoms until it is too far progressed. Your primary care provider can test your kidney health once a year at your annual physical. It is vital to keep up with these appointments so that you can catch any health problems early on.

Treatment for cardiovascular and kidney disease depends on the severity of the disease, but it often includes medication to lower blood pressure or cholesterol. In some cases, surgery is required to treat cardiovascular disease. Dialysis is a common treatment for severe kidney disease, and in some cases, a kidney transplant is required.